Operating and latch-releasing mechanism for sliding doors.



No. 700,343. I N Patented May 20, I902.

w. s. LINCOLN. I

OPERATING AND LATCH RELEASING MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOORS.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1901.) (No Model.)

UNITED STA ES- PATENT WINSLOW LINCOLN, ,VOFQ OR TER. MASSACHUSETTS; 1

OPERATING- ND LATCHsfi ELEASlN G MECHANISM. Foe snpmefnoofis; 1

srnormca'rxon forming part of Letters" Patent No. 700,343, dated. my 20, 1902. 1

Application filed February 27, 1901. Serial No, 49 ,097-

model.)

connection with the slidingdoorsof street cars and which may also be used to advantage in other situations. I

- The especial object of I this invention is to provide a special form of construction for fastening and releasing sliding doors, so that when a door is in its, locked position it may be unlocked and drawn open by a straight pull upon the door-handle. V Y j My construction .has been especially designedfor use on street-car doors, although it may be used to advantagein other locations.-

To these ends my invention consists ofthe parts and combinations'of parts, as hereinafter described,and moreiparticularly pointed,

out in the claims at the end of this specification. .In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the application of-an operating and latch-releasing mechanism constructed according to my invention to a slidin g door and to the casing thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of the sliding door and its latch-releasing mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the position of the parts when the door is in its locked or closed position, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the parts which are mounted in the sliding door.

In order to provide a satisfactory door-catch;

and operating connection for the doors of street-cars or for use in similar locations, it is essential to provide a construction by means i of which the door will be securely locked or held in its closed position and by means of which thedoor can immediately be slid open without requiring a separateoperation for re leasing orlifting th'edoor-latch. To provide a construction for accomplishing these results, an operating and latch-releasing mechating-handle isip'nlledgto open the door the j releaser will disengagethe latch, afiterwhich the door maybe drawn open. Two operating-handles are prefer'ahly employed, so that the door can be opened or closed either from ith'e'inside or from theoutside. v

i Referring to the accompanying drawings.

and in detail, A designates a 'portion of a sliding door of any ordinary or-approved construction and B designatesa portion of the door-casing. Screwed ontosor otherwise secured to the door A- are brackets 10, and piV otally mo'untedon screws lt'inltheibrackets 10 are the operating-handles .11. The -upper arm or branch of each operating-handle 11 is provided with a tongue or projection '12, as illustrated most clearlyin- Fig.4, while the lower arm or part 130E 'ea'chhandle 11- may formstops for'limiting theuextent'to which .the operating-handle can pivot or turn on its screwslei i r v Mortised or set intothe door A is asocketsection:l5, (illustrated mostclearlyin Fig. 4,) V 7 having a face plate l6 fo'r receiving screws to hold the same'in place.

Mounted to "slide or move longitudinally inthe socket-piece 15, as illustrated most clearly inQ'Fig'. 3,isa latch- .85 I releaser or cam-piece" 17 ,fhaving an "inclined.

front face and having a Lnot'ch near itsrear end for the tongues orprojections 12,extende V I ing in from the handlesll, a

- The latch or catch, which is mounted in the door-casing, may be of substantially the ordinary construction, and, as herein illustrated, thelatch or catch20 may be pivoted in a casting 18, having a face-plate 19 for receiving the "screwswhich hold --the same in place inthe I do r-c i ing mechanism; as thus constructed when-the In the use of K anl'operating and"latch"-releas- Y door is -pulled,together or closed 'by means of v one of itsoperating-handles'11 the parts will occupy theposition illustrated in Fig. 3 and loo thef latch 20 will lock the door in its closed or shut position, andwhen either of the operating-handles is pulled to open the door the latch-releaser 17.will first he slid forward to release the latch or catch 20, so that the door will then be drawn open without requiring a separate operation for releasing the latch.

I am aware that numerous changes may be made in applying my invention to sliding doors by those who are skilled in the art. For example, a single operating-handle may be employed in places Where it is desired to operate and unlock the door from one side only. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the construction I have herein shown and described; but

hat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an operating and latch-releasing mechanism for sliding doors, the combination of an operating-handle pivotally mounted upon the sliding door, a sliding cam-piece or latch-releaser mounted in the sliding door and connected to be moved by the operating-handle, and a latch pivotally mounted in the doorcasing, said parts being arranged so that when the operating-handle is pulled to open the door, the releaser will first disengage the latch,

after which the door may be drawn open, substantially as described.

2. In an operating, and latch-releasing mechanism for sliding doors, the combination of a latch-socket mounted in the door, a sliding inclined-ended latch releaser or bolt, two operating-handles pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the sliding door and connected to move the latch-releaser, and a latch pivotally mounted in the door-casing in position to engage the latch-socket, said parts being arranged so that when either operating-handle is pulled to open the door, the releaser will first disengage the latch from its socket, after which the door may be drawn open, substantially as described.

3. In an operating and latch-releasin g mechanism for sliding doors, the combination of a latch socket piece mortised into a sliding door, and having a face-plate for receiving screws to hold the same in place, a sliding latch-releaser mounted in the latch socketpiece, operating-handles pivoted in brackets upon opposite sides of the door and having inwardly-projecting fingers engaging a notch in the latch releaser, and a gravity latch mounted in a pivot-piece which is mortised into the door-casing and which is provided with a face-plate for receiving the screws for holding the same in place, said parts being arranged so that when either operating-handle is pulled to open the door, the releaser will first disengage the latch, after which the door may be drawn open, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VINSLOW S. LINCOLN. \Vitnesses:

LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

